Platform Trucks
Platform Trucks
Heavy duty platform trucks and folding hand trucks are made from aluminum, metal and plastic. When you need a rugged and sturdy truck for moving the heaviest possible weights around the warehouse or factory, but do not have access to or the availability of a forklift, platform trucks are the perfect solution. With a large flat bed that can carry the bulkiest items with ease, and a range of different designs available to suit almost any situation, these are one of the most flexible devices in a modern workshop, and provide plenty of freedom and support for staff.
In general, platform trucks have been designed to be pulled rather than pushed, and this protocol should be followed wherever possible. When a fully laden truck is being pulled, it is much easier for the operator to control its speed and stop it if necessary by bracing their weight against the motion of the truck. If the truck is being pushed, it can only be stopped by holding it up using the hands, and when the truck has up to one and a half tons on board, it can easily get away from the operator, and potentially do a lot of damage.
One of the main advantages that platform trucks have over other carts is the sheer size of load that they are able to carry. On one of the larger models of steel platform truck you will find an area of around 18 square feet of usable space with a capacity of around 3,600 pounds. This is plenty of room and strength to allow staff to move even the heaviest items around the workplace with relative ease.
There are variations of the standard steel construction platform trucks that feature pneumatic wheels rather than casters, and these are specially designed for use on outdoor areas such as in garden centers and on farms where a larger wheel is necessary to prevent the truck getting stuck in the ground. These trucks are typically restricted to being able to carry a lower weight of around 2,500 pounds, which is still a fairly large amount of any component you care to thing about.
For roles where the ability to carry very heavy weights is not so important, it is sensible to invest in the less expensive hardwood platform trucks rather than the steel models. These trucks can typically handle up to 1,500 lb of mass, and are built to the same high standard as the steel alternative.
When the load being carried requires greater control, or in a situation where there is a greater risk of damage to the surrounding area, a twin handled platform truck is a sensible investment that will allow for better handling when properly used, although it can also be handled perfectly well by a single operator when required.
Although most uses of platform trucks tend to be in situations where very large loads are being moved around, it is important to ensure that staff have access to equipment for moving lighter items too, and you can find the perfect solution in the form of their versatile lightweight plastic trucks that are rated up to 500 pounds, and are ideal for moving boxes around in an office environment.
